The Great Outdoors, November 18, 2024 — The rhythm of time flows differently when boots stir the leaf litter, the trees squeak spooky messages in the wind, the sun splashes through the trees, and campfires crackle.
Long distance hikers love this ambiance. We revert to the circadian rhythms of our ancient ancestors. In the woods, the rigidity of railroad time gives way to the ancient and more traditional rise and fall of the sun. We awaken at dawn and sleep when it gets dark, or as we say, hiker midnight. It’s utilitarian. Returning to our brain’s original factory settings feels healthful and natural. Out there, time keeps itself and you don’t need a watch.
“Into the forest I go to lose myself and find my soul.” John Muir
Recently, Prof. Heather Cox Richardson, who writes the “Letters from an American” on Substack, wrote of the advent of standard time in 1883. This was truly the dawn of the modern age, initiating cascading change that flows to our time. Her letter is here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-151805132?source=queue
For many of us, we live in times that try men’s souls to paraphrase Thomas Paine. The daily grind is brutal. Divided algorithmic public discourse is worse. Alchohol (pan líquido – liquid bread in Panamanian slang) becomes the Roman bread while, sports serve as the circus. Sadly, these are intentional features, not bugs.
Pretending to watch Caitlin Clark play basketball.
The deafening silence of nature quenches the crescendo of civilization. It’s the antidote for our times. As Mikey said in the cereal commercial of decades past, “Try it. You’ll like it.”
Shenandoah was created from land condemned and taken from those who farmed the area. Cultural artifacts remain. Among these are a number of family cemeteries. Many are lovingly maintained by descendants. Some are still active. Of note is the tomb stone of Annie, a five-year-old. In the context of our day, one cannot help but wonder, “What if they had modern vaccines?”
We’ve spent the past several weeks doing woodsy stuff. It’s helped redirect our minds towards peaceful pursuits and away from the death march toward history that surrounds us. To all, we would say, “Come on in. Join us. The water’s fine!”
Sisu
